46 Interesting Facts About Kenya

Last updated on May 15th, 2023

31. School education is free in Kenya.[3]

32. However, that does not mean that other forms of entertainment are lacking. On weekends, most Kenyan youths throng city clubs to watch various sports, including football, basketball, rugby and other athletic endeavors.

33. Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Kenya.[13]

About politics, government, economy, and trade.

34. The main economic activity in Kenya is farming. The country is among the top exporters of coffee, tea, flowers, and pyrethrum. Due to their quality, Kenyan coffee and tea are normally grabbed the moment it reaches the international market.[12]

35. Coffee is the biggest foreign income generator for Kenya. Surprisingly, only 3% of the coffee grown in Kenya is consumed locally.[12,17]

36. Other economic activities include fishing and trade. Kenya has many rivers and lakes, making it easy for fishermen to have big catches. Trade activities include selling clothes and basic commodities.

37. Entertainment is a crucial aspect of Kenyans’ lives. The most common forms of local entertainment include traditional dancing, storytelling, and bullfighting.

38. According to the current exchange rate, a US dollar, when exchanged with the local currency, will fetch you approximately 100 Kenyan Shilling.

A 50 Kenyan Shilling note. Kenya fact file
50 Kenyan Shilling front. Image credit – Wikipedia.org

39. Kenya is a politically stable country that has never experienced a major civil unrest. Headed by the President and his Deputy, the country has well-defined structures that make it ideal for foreigners to carry out businesses.

40. Kenya promulgated its new constitution on 27 August 2010, thereby introducing a bicameral house composed of a senate and parliament. After the 1963 independence constitution, the constitution has seen two major reforms – one in 1969 and the other in 2010. The country also has a system of governance enabled through its 47 counties.[16]

41. The president of Kenya can be appointed for a five-year term and one can only serve as president for a maximum of two terms. The Supreme Court is the highest, the Court of Appeal is the second highest, and the High Court is the third highest court in Kenya.[22]

Some unusual facts about Kenya

42. Kenya is also home to the Great Wildebeest Migration. The migration of approximately 1.7 to 2 million animals (including gazelle, zebra, and eland) takes place between Serengeti in Tanzania and Maasai Mara in Kenya. Some have even labeled this transition as one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World.” The event is also known as “The World Cup of Wildlife”.[5]

43. Maasai Mara has one of the largest densities of the lion in the world.[5]

44. There are some scenes that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. As one travels to Machakos city, there is a certain step portion of the highway that seems to defy gravity: things normally go upward instead of downward. For most, this place has remained a mystery.[6]

45. Kenya is also famous for its Crying Stone in Kakamega. As one approaches this town from Kisumu city, there is a unique, tall stone, around seven feet, that produces a streak of water that makes it appear like it is crying. The droplets of water, which local scientists have failed to understand, normally appear like tears.[7]

the crying stone in kenya
The crying stone in Kakamega, Kenya.

46. The Maasai Ostrich Farm in Kenya is the place where you can ride an Ostrich, the largest living species of bird on the planet. With a running speed of 40-60 miles per hour, the ostrich is the fastest two-legged creature on earth. The farm was established in 1991.[24]

Kenya – the country at a glance

Independence12 December 1963 (from the UK)
Capital CityNairobi
(1°16′S 36°48′E)
Largest CityNairobi
(1°16′S 36°48′E)
Areatotal: 580,367 sq km
land: 569,140 sq km
water: 11,227 sq km
Population55,864,655 (2022 est.)
Official LanguageEnglish, Swahili
BordersSomalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan.
CurrencyKenyan shilling (KES)
ReligionChristianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhs, Parsees, Bahais
Demonym Kenyan
Life expectancy at birth69.69 Years (2022)
Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.
Climatevaries from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrainlow plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Lowest pointIndian Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation762 m
Highest pointMount Kenya 5,199 m
Natural resourceslimestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Agricultural land48.1%
Birth rate26.39 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate5.01 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Sex ratio1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
National symbollion
National colorsblack, red, green, white
National anthem"Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (Oh God of All Creation)
Government typepresidential republic
PresidentUhuru Kenyatta
Deputy PresidentWilliam Ruto
Literacy81.5%
Suffrage18 years of age; universal
Industriessmall-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism
Exports$11.49 billion (2019 est.)
tea, cut flowers, refined petroleum, coffee, titanium (2019)
Imports$20.41 billion (2017 est.)
refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, wheat, iron products (2019)
GDP - per capita (PPP)$4,200 (2020 est.)
Time ZoneEAT (UTC+3)
Internet country code.ke
Calling Code+254
Drives on theLeft
Table last updatedJuly 31, 2022